Description
Comforting chicken and broccoli baked alfredo delivers creamy pasta perfection straight from Italian-inspired kitchens. Cheesy, herb-infused layers meld with tender chicken and crisp broccoli, promising a delightful meal you’ll savor to the last bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 2 lbs chicken breast
- 1 cup shredded parmesan cheese
Vegetables:
- 3 cups broccoli florets
- 1/2 cup chopped onions
Sauce and Seasonings:
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1/2 cup milk
- 4 cloves garlic
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg
Pasta:
- 12 oz fettuccine pasta
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F and prepare a large baking dish by lightly greasing its surface.
- Cook fettuccine in salted boiling water until al dente, typically 8-10 minutes, then drain and set aside.
- Slice chicken breasts into uniform bite-sized pieces, seasoning thoroughly with salt, pepper, and a hint of nutmeg.
- Heat butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat, then sauté chicken until golden brown and completely cooked through, approximately 6-7 minutes.
- In the same skillet, sauté chopped onions and minced garlic until fragrant and translucent, about 2-3 minutes.
- Create the creamy Alfredo sauce by whisking together heavy cream, milk, remaining seasonings, and half of the parmesan cheese in the skillet.
- Steam broccoli florets until bright green and tender-crisp, roughly 3-4 minutes.
- Layer cooked pasta in the prepared baking dish, then top with sautéed chicken, steamed broccoli, and pour the entire Alfredo sauce evenly over the top.
- Sprinkle remaining parmesan cheese across the surface.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes until the sauce is bubbling and the cheese is melted and slightly golden.
- Remove from oven and let rest for 5 minutes before serving to allow sauce to set.
Notes
- Ensure chicken is cut into uniform pieces for even cooking and consistent texture throughout the dish.
- Steam broccoli just until bright green to maintain its crisp texture and prevent overcooking, which can make it mushy and less appealing.
- Replace heavy cream with half-and-half or whole milk for a lighter version that reduces overall calorie content without compromising flavor.
- Consider adding red pepper flakes or Italian herbs to customize the sauce and introduce additional depth to the classic Alfredo recipe.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 675
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 860 mg
- Fat: 42 g
- Saturated Fat: 24 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 47 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 41 g
- Cholesterol: 155 mg